The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has revealed that the state police command arrested 5,895 suspects, rescued 168 kidnapped victims, and recovered 105 firearms in the past one year through intelligence-driven policing operations.
Giwa disclosed this on March 11, 2026, during a press briefing at the State Police Command Headquarters in GRA, Enugu, marking his one year in office as Commissioner of Police.
According to him, since assuming duty on March 11, 2025, the command has pursued a policing strategy built on professionalism, discipline and community engagement.
“Upon my assumption of duty exactly one year ago, on March 11, 2025, I pledged to entrench a policing system that is professional, proactive and people-friendly. These principles have since guided my leadership approach and the strategic direction of the Command,” Giwa said.
He added that officers who violated professional standards had faced disciplinary action.
“Officers who tested my resolve to uphold these principles have had themselves to blame, as I have not hesitated to ensure that appropriate disciplinary procedures and sanctions are applied to anyone found wanting.”
Kidnapping Operations and Rescues
Highlighting recent security operations, the commissioner disclosed that 12 kidnapped victims were rescued on March 6, 2026 during a joint operation involving police operatives, the military, forest guards and neighbourhood watch members in Efeche Forest, Ette community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
According to him, the suspects fled during the raid but subsequent sting operations led to the arrest of three gang members.
“The suspects were positively identified by the rescued victims as members of the gang responsible for their abduction,” he said.
Items recovered from the scene included a pump-action gun, a locally fabricated revolver, a live cartridge, military camouflage items and other materials believed to have been used by the kidnappers in the forest hideout.
In another operation on February 27, 2026, police operatives attached to the Unity Division arrested five suspects along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road in Ogbeke-Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area.
The suspects reportedly confessed to involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery, while police recovered a locally fabricated six-round revolver gun, a cutlass and two daggers.
Giwa also disclosed that in January 2026, a clergyman abducted in the Agushere and Okpakereke forests bordering Benue State was rescued after a gun battle between security operatives and the kidnappers.
“During the operation, the operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel, during which one suspect was neutralised while others fled toward the Benue State axis of the forest,” he said.
Recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, 20 rounds of live ammunition and an extra magazine.
Another kidnapping attempt was foiled on January 18, 2026 along the Ngene-Ukwu axis of the Adani-Nsukka Road, where police neutralised one suspect and recovered another AK-47 rifle and 20 rounds of ammunition.
Overall, the police commissioner said 129 suspects were arrested for kidnapping within the past year, while 168 victims were successfully rescued.
Arrests for Rape, Defilement and Incest
The command also recorded several arrests in cases of sexual offences, with 39 suspects arrested for rape or defilement.
Among them was 18-year-old Chinedu Nkasiobi, who was arrested on March 6, 2026, following allegations that he raped a woman at Alulu-Nike in Enugu.
“The suspect allegedly entered the victim’s house through the ceiling while she was sleeping, threatened her with a knife and had carnal knowledge of her,” Giwa said, adding that the case would be prosecuted after investigations.
Another suspect, Ikenna Ekesi, aged 30, was arrested in Awgu Local Government Area for allegedly defiling and impregnating his 12-year-old ward.
In a separate case, 45-year-old Eugene Obinna Ikeche was arrested after his 17-year-old daughter alleged that he had been sexually abusing her and had also defiled her 12-year-old sister.
“The suspect confessed to the crime, blaming it on the devil,” Giwa said, noting that the case would be prosecuted in court.
Cultism and Drug Trafficking Crackdown
The commissioner revealed that 210 suspects were arrested for cultism, illicit drug trafficking and related offences during the review period.
One of the major breakthroughs occurred on March 8, 2026, when police operatives disrupted a cult initiation linked to the Black Axe Confraternity in a forest in Udenu Local Government Area near University of Nigeria Nsukka.
“The suspects opened sporadic gunfire on sighting the operatives but were subdued,” Giwa said.
Thirteen suspects were arrested during the operation, while police recovered locally made firearms, pistols, cartridges, vehicles, motorcycles, phones, a laptop and other exhibits.
Additional raids led to the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs, including cannabis sativa, tramadol and methamphetamine, also known locally as Mkpuru-mmiri.
Giwa said the command continues to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in tackling drug trafficking and abuse.
Overall Crime Statistics
Summarising the command’s achievements within the past year, the police commissioner said:
- 148 suspects were arrested for armed robbery
- 129 suspects for kidnapping
- 158 suspects for murder
- 48 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms
- 39 suspects for rape or defilement
- 210 suspects for cultism and drug trafficking
He added that 5,163 other suspects were arrested for offences including theft, vandalism, fraud and human trafficking.
“On the whole, five thousand eight hundred and ninety-five suspects were arrested in the past one year,” he said.
Police also recovered 665 rounds of ammunition, 118 stolen vehicles, and large quantities of illicit drugs.
Securing Major Events
Giwa noted that the command also successfully secured several major events in the state, including the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, which attracted more than 20,000 lawyers to Enugu in August 2025.
Other events secured by the police included the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum, the 2026 Legal Week, and several religious and social gatherings.
Support from Stakeholders
The commissioner commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force.
He also praised the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for supporting security efforts in the state.
“I acknowledge the unwavering commitment of the Executive Governor of Enugu State, whose security-focused leadership has provided the enabling environment for our work,” he said.
Commitment to Sustained Security
Reassuring residents, Giwa pledged that the police would continue to confront security threats head-on.
“My commitment to frontally tackle security challenges in Enugu State remains unwavering,” he said.
He called on residents, traditional rulers, civil society groups and the media to continue supporting the police in maintaining peace.
“Together, we can achieve and sustain a secure, peaceful and thriving environment for the good of everyone in Enugu State.”
